Dear Customer,

Welcome to the GSS monthly update of news, views and advice surrounding today’s top IT security issues. 

Happy New Year from all at GSS.  This month we are on the road.  You can see us at the BETT 2008 show which starts next week. We are at stand N80 talking about the lessons to be learnt around IT security within education.  The article below talks about what’s on at this years largest educational technology event and what you can discover at our stand.

Also, after the popular previous event, we are holding further Microsoft Gold Partner Certified RKeyTec seminars - this month and in February.  The free half day seminar held at the Microsoft Campus focuses on helping you get the most out of your Active Directory.  Join us to learn how to Optimise, Secure, Audit and Document your Active Directory to achieve a real return on your investment.  See our Event Section for registration.

As part of this month's issue, we are talking about the recent reports in The Times and other leading newspapers. The CPNI has issued warnings to UK businesses about state sponsored hacking by China. The article below reports how we now have government agencies, not just the 'traditional hacker', laying these booby traps!

We had a lot of interest in last month’s Facebook article ‘Who’s using Facebook?’  The article looked at how companies across the UK are concerned that access to social networking sites are exposing their organisation to security risks.  It was so popular we decided to feature the subject in this month’s reader Q&A below.  Keep your suggestions coming and please email me with your comments.

David Hobson
Managing Director

Fighting Facebook – do I block it?

Last month, Thomas from Manchester asked: “I read your article in last month’s newsletter regarding the current Facebook craze.  I’m always reading about how important it is to discover if your organisation is being exposed to the security and productivity risks of social networking sites.  But should I completely block them or not – any advice?”

Read David's advice

If you've got a question you'd like to put to the experts, send it to emaildavid@gss.co.uk

IT Security: Learn the lessons at BETT

This year we will be exhibiting at BETT for the 8th year running.  The show promises to be the biggest and the best BETT yet focusing on emerging trends such as mobile learning and social networking. We are there for the four day event to discuss the threats surrounding these emerging trends.  The constantly evolving classroom and increasing reliance on ICT makes e-security more important than ever.  The threats constantly change and there will always be lessons to learn.

Register to learn the lessons at BETT

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Powerful perimeter security on a budget

Being a research organisation, the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research has to watch their spending closely, as well as handle IT security challenges. However, with over 200 staff and growing network infrastructure needs, the Institute needed to upgrade the security and capacity of its existing firewall – without compromising business needs.  Malik Pervez, Head of IT at the Institute began looking for an answer with cost a dominant factor in mind, and discovered a unique solution.

Read more on the challenges faced by the Paterson Institute

Who's out to get you?

If you were asked what’s the most common type of hacker and attack, you would probably imagine the following. A thin young man in a poverty-stricken corner of the world.  Greasy-haired and red-eyed, typing late into the night, trying desperately to get your American Express account number for nefarious purposes.  But you probably won’t have thought about state-sponsored espionage.  Recent coverage in the media (The Times) has highlighted an unprecedented alert from the Director-general of MI5 warning British companies that systems are under attack from China.

Learn more about how you are at risk

Introducing Imprivata OneSign

Imprivata OneSign provides an easy, smart and affordable Enterprise Single Sign-On (SSO) solution for organisations that need to quickly and effectively resolve their password security and user access issues.  Packaged as an affordable, easy-to-implement appliance, OneSign uses patent-pending technology to enable SSO without modifying applications.  Benefit through centralised password administration, lower help-desk costs, increased productivity and complete compliance.

Find out more

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Launching the Outsourced CISO

GSS has now launched 'The Outsourced CISO' as part of its new consulting services.  The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is an essential component in the management of the modern enterprise's information risk. Filling the CISO role with a junior unlikely to have the skills to do the job could prove even worse than doing nothing.  Our committed, experienced consultants will work with you and your team on a flexible, demand-driven basis to develop a tailored information security programme.

Find out why you need a CISO